Live updates from Israeli-Iranian war: Israeli strikes in Lebanon kill 40 people near Baalbek, health ministry says

Live updates on the Israeli-Iranian war: Hezbollah announced Wednesday that its fighting force, numbering tens of thousands, is ready to engage Israel. They stressed that the outcome of the US elections will not affect the ongoing conflict in Lebanon.

The organization’s leadership, supported by Iran, issued a statement indicating that all Israeli territories are potential targets. The Israeli Defense Forces reported that about 120 shells crossed the border on Wednesday.

Following notification of the evacuation, Israeli forces carried out military operations in Hezbollah’s main stronghold in southern Beirut.
The conflict between Israel and Hezbollah has been ongoing since late September, when Israeli forces expanded their operations in the Gaza Strip to secure their northern Lebanese border.

Last year, Hezbollah initiated small cross-border strikes against Israel in a show of solidarity with its Palestinian Hamas comrades following the Oct. 7, 2023, incident.

Peace talks over the Gaza conflict, which began with the Hamas attack, remain unsuccessful. The conflict in Lebanon has killed nearly 2,000 people, according to Lebanese health ministry data compiled by AFP.

“We have tens of thousands of trained resistance fighters” ready for battle, Hezbollah leader Naim Qassem said during a televised address marking 40 days since the death of his predecessor Hassan Nasrallah in a military strike.

The broadcast occurred after the announcement of Donald Trump’s election victory, although it was pre-recorded.

Qassem noted that the election results between Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris will not affect potential ceasefire agreements in Lebanon.

“We do not base our expectations of an end to aggression on political events,” he said.

“Whether Harris wins or Trump wins, it doesn’t mean anything to us.

“What will stop this… war is the battlefield,” he said, referring to the fighting in southern Lebanon and Hezbollah’s strikes on Israel.

Earlier on Wednesday, Hezbollah claimed responsibility for an attack on a military facility near Israel’s main airport, adjacent to the commercial center of Tel Aviv. Israeli airport authorities confirmed that the incident did not affect airport operations.